Griggs courier., 1887-06-24
33
ASOUTHERN BATTALION,
Packed into It's term Of service were
\ Snndreds Of thrilling incidents. in which

6nndreds Of thrilling incidents, in which,
however, the thirty fourth Virginia
Battalion had . by no means unique
j experiences. It served both as cavalry
4 and infantry, and in both did honest
service to the cause it espoused. The
battalion was organized by General
Humphrey Marshall in Smith county,
Virginia, January Il, 1868. by the
election Of Captain v. A. witcher
Lieutenantl Colonel and Captain William
Stratton, major. Charles Edwards, Of
Bangor. Maine, was appointed adjutant,
but resigned in 1864, after distin-
\ guished service, and was succeeded by
John T. s. Wade, who served with
distinction to the end of the war.
] Shortly after its organization it was
ordered to Staunton, Va, and during
the month Of March, 1868, was ordered
to report to Brigadier General William
E. Jones, at Eddingburg. Va. In April
and May, 1868, it accompanied General
Jones in the expedition made by him
and Imboden to West Virginia and
participated in all the engagements.
At Greenland Gap it greatly distin-
Euished itself by charging and taking
. church after two of Jones' best regi-
ments had failed. Charging on horse
back, the command surrounded the
church and held its position under a
heavy fire, until Private Henry
Mitchell, Of Company A, climbed from
fhis horse mp one of the corners of the
!! church and set 1t on fire. compelling the
surrender of a hundred of Mulagan's
command, who held the building.
I On this expedition General Jones
caused the heads of large number of
oil barrels to be knocked out and the
oil burned. A great deal of it ran in
to the Little Sandy river and the
flames spreading covered the surface of
the river with fire, presenting scene
awfully grand. For what purpose the
oil was destroyed it is hard to tell.
Our battalion occupied Ringwood.
Fairmont, Grafton and other points
and saw fighting at all of them, as well
as at Cheat river bridge, which General
Jones failed to capture and destroy.
The battalion had sharp fight at one
{ end and gained ground, but vigorous
attack was not made at the other end
to support it. In the latter part Of May
the command was ordered to report to
Brigadier General A. s. jenkins, and
in few days was detached and sent
with Major General Rhodes Division
of infantry faom Bunker's Hill, where
the battalion had severe fighting in
driving detachment of Federals out of
some brick houses. In this engagement
Lieutenand Anderson Christian, of
Company B, was killed while gallantly
leading his company in charge. Be-
fore starting in the charge he took off
his shoes, as useless appendage.
Having defeated the federal infantry
and artillery at Martinsburg, General
Rhodes ordered the battalion to attack
some six hundred Federal cavalry,
Z which was trying to cover their artil-
lery. Dashing forward through the
town the battalion charged and broke
AShe Federal cavalry and put it to rout,
capturing a battery and many prisoners.
The battalion at a gallop pushed on to
1Williamsport, across the Potomac, and
Nearly next morning routed body of
Federal cavalry. Being Joined by Gen.
jenkins, whose command had in detach-
ments been with General Ewel at Ber-
ryville and EARLY at Winchester, the
whole command pushed forward
through Hagerstown, Chambershurg
and Carlisle to the immediate vicinity
of Harrisburg, where the battalion
:, charged and drove out of their en-
Z trenchments body of militia. Cover
ing the withdrawal of General Jenkins
command from Harrisburg the COM
mand on the evening of the first days
fighting with the bri gade Joined Gener-
al Lees army in the rear Of Gettysburg.
On July 5, under the immediate COM
mand of General Stuart. the battalion
was dismounted in line of battle at and
in front of Hubbel's barn, where it
fought New Jersey regiment and
some Vermont troops. In the evening
being charged by regiment of Michi-
gan troops, under Colonel Alger, it raj
lied and captured the colors Of the
Michigan cavalry.